With baby boomers retiring from the ranks of the skilled trade workforce in Washington and across the country, a growing number of labor experts predict a shortage of trained industrial workers in fields such as welding, electrical, plumbing and construction management. To aid this need, Grainger, a local distributor of facilities maintenance supplies, recently awarded a Tools for Tomorrow scholarship to South Seattle Community College student Muhammad Nawaz during a presentation at the neighboring Grainger branch. "Students like Muhammad represent the best and the brightest of the future of skilled labor," said Steve Porter, District Branch Services Manager at Grainger. "Grainger is proud to partner with South Seattle Community College through our Tools for Tomorrow scholarship program. Together, we can help ensure the communities of Washington have trained professionals ready to meet the demand for skilled trade workers." Nawaz, a Burien resident student studying automotive technology at South Seattle Community College, was nominated by the school's faculty to receive the award. His nominating instructor describes him as an outstanding student who learns quickly, is skilled at diagnostics and is willing to take on any project assigned to him. Nawaz is one of 35 technical students across the nation who will receive a $2,000 scholarship and, upon graduation, a tool package from Grainger to support him in his future career. "I am grateful for Grainger's generous contribution that will help further my career," said Nawaz. "This scholarship provides me an opportunity to focus on my studies and professional goals of becoming an automotive technician and working at a local repair facility." "The automotive industry in Washington is in critical need of highly skilled workers with an understanding of today's tools, technologies and processes," said Malcolm Grothe, Executive Dean of Workforce Education at South Seattle Community College. "With the increasing demand for these skilled individuals, it is essential that we continue to invest in their talent, and Grainger is doing just that through this scholarship program." South Seattle Community College serves a multicultural population of 15,000 students each year from an 87-acre, wooded campus in West Seattle, and satellite campuses in the Georgetown and Beacon Hill communities. Its programs include college transfer, professional/technical careers, distance learning, basic and transitional studies, and lifelong learning. The college also offers a four-year Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree in Hospitality Management. South is one of the Seattle Community Colleges.